Falmouth Schools Expected To Make Mask Mandate Decision Tuesday

FALMOUTH, MA — A decision on whether Falmouth Public Schools will enact a mask mandate to start the year is expected to come at Tuesday's school committee meeting.

A potential mandate was hotly contested by parents, town officials and school staff at last week's meeting, as public comments ranged across both sides.

School physician Dr. Gregory Parkinson and town Health Agent Scott McGann both said they recommend the ban, because of low vaccination rates among students and higher COVID-19 transmission rates with the delta variant.

"By wearing masks indoors, I think it opens the doors to being able to hopefully be outside, to have sports, to have a lot of the regular things, and most importantly be in person,” Parkinson said.

Some Falmouth parents like Deb Berglin said she'd also like to see the district enact a mask mandate, following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention making the recommendation.

"I think that masking is really just part of being a good citizen," Berglin said. "We have immunocompromised staff and students in our schools. We have vaccine hesitant folks in our schools, and masking feels like the least we can do for our community to care for one another and keep us all safe."

Other parents felt their children suffered academically or health-wise last school year, with masks being required. Matthew Long told the school committee his children suffered headaches while wearing masks. He also said his daughter developed a gastrointestinal issue, and both issues didn't resolve until the school year ended.

"We can throw out lots of numbers and say it is for the safety of the children, but my kids weren’t healthy last year," Long said.

Despite Falmouth potentially making a choice Tuesday night, the town could still end up subject to statewide rules. The state is on the verge of revising its coronavirus masking guidance in public schools — at least temporarily — and mandating that all students and staff wear masks indoors to begin the school year this fall regardless of vaccination status.

State Board of Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said Friday morning that he is asking the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for authority to require all students and staff at public school to wear masks through at least the month of September "to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get vaccinated."

The policy would then stay in place for all districts until 80 percent of students and staff are vaccinated.

Tuesday's Falmouth School Committee meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.